Examinations are
serious business and require solid preparation. Just like an Olympic athlete
cannot hope to make the grade without lengthy preparation, you cannot expect to
get optimum results on an exam with the minimum, last-minute effort. However,
by following some simple guidelines, you can achieve your goal of acing any exam.
1.
Study through the module. Mid-term
and year-end examinations measure your ability to understand and recall
information that was taught over weeks and months. That means you need to study
a lot of material. By setting up and following a study schedule throughout the
year, you can be very well prepared and can expect to do well. On the other
hand, if you squander your time through the module and expect to catch up study in a few days or nights, you will not
only place yourself under extreme psychological pressure, but also end up with
lower marks than you were capable of achieving.
2. Find
out about the exam. Make
sure you know all there is to know about the format of your upcoming exam. You
should know the length of the exam, the style of the exam (objective,
subjective, or both), and which sections are worth the most points.
3. Listen
and look for clues. In
the weeks before a mid-term or final exam, your professor will probably drop a
lot of hints about what will appear on the exam, so listen carefully in class.
Also pay attention to whatever your teacher writes on the board as it may give
you clues about what sections of your course are guaranteed to be on the exam.
Equally important, listen for what not to study.
4. Make
a study schedule for the few weeks before the exam. Make a list of all your subjects. Divide the amount of
chapters you need to cover in each subject by the number of days. Figure out
how many hours you have to devote to each subject and each section. Stick to
your schedule, no matter what!
5. Organize
your study material. Have
all your filed notes, old tests, and textbooks in one place to save time. Clear
away unnecessary books and papers from your study area. Take away any non-study
related material, which could distract you.
6. Use
your strongest learning style. Use your dominant learning style to help you study
more efficiently and effectively. For example, create review materials such as
recorded tapes if you are an auditory learner. Draw mind maps to outline all
the main points, if you are a visual learner. Make up matching cards and games
to aid recall, if you are a kinesthetic learner.
7. Study
alone or in a group. By
now, you should know what works best for you. Some people need privacy and
silence to concentrate and remember information. Others benefit from the
camaraderie of study groups. Try both ways and find out what works best for
you.
8. Use
your textbook wisely. Today’s textbooks are designed to help you succeed.
Pay attention to headings and subheadings, highlighted sections, key terms and
definitions, and review questions. They are designed to draw your attention to
the most important elements, which you should know.
9. Write
questions for yourself. Go
through all your material and write questions to test yourself. You may be
surprised to find a number of similar questions appear on your actual exam. It’s
no use reading and rereading material without stopping to find out what you
actually recall. If your questions are written on index cards, you can put away
those which you can answer correctly and keep practicing the rest.
10. Practice
a lot. After
reviewing, spend the majority of time on output activities which test your
recall. You could do this by using mind maps, flashcards, mnemonic devices,
diagrams, songs or presentations. You could also try to teach someone else the
material; it’s a great way to check what you know, understand and remember.
11. Review
regularly. Set
up a schedule, which allows you to review once and ideally, review again. This
enables you to discover what you need to spend more time on and what comes
easily to you.
12. Know
practical details. Make
sure you know the exact date, time and location of your exam. Mark it in
colored marker on your calendar and in your diary. Visit the location in
advance at the same hour as your exam is scheduled to take place to get an idea
of how long it takes you to get there.
13. Maintain
your health. Nourish
your brain during the pre-exam period. Eat the best foods, drink brain-boosting
juices and smoothies. Avoid junk food, caffeine, and nicotine. You need all the
resources possible to remember vast amounts of information and think clearly
during your exam. Feed your brain and energize your body with the best
nutrition available.
14. Avoid
cramming. The
term cramming refers to stuffing loads of information into your brain in a very
short period, such as the night before the test. If you follow the strategies
on this website, you should not need to cram. If you absolutely have to cram,
review only the highlighted info, key vocabulary, and most important topics.
Dont try to cover as much as you might have if you had studied systematically
throughout the year, or even in the pre-exam period.
